Learn West Coast Swing

Ron was an excellent partner in dance and the West Coast Swing is another one of the dances we learned together.

Taking a break from dancing for the moment (too much else going on, and it’s so not something that comes naturally to me that getting anywhere near decent at it would require a tremendous commitment). But I am very happy with the fact that I stuck at it for this long, and that there was genuine improvement over the months. I’m counting this one a success because it turned out to be mostly about perserverence.

After last week’s fighty post-dance practice (Ross and I are the king and queen of miscommunication, but we’re at least good at knowing that and fixing it), we had a wildly successful three song run today after class. Wildly successful means we didn’t stop dancing for more than a few seconds at a time, and we laughed a lot.

I still need to work a lot on reading my leader’s signals, and spinning. Spinning is my nemesis.

You know, this is really going well. We just completed five weeks at the place in Newton and are going on to the next level, with great confidence that we’ll be able to learn more good stuff. Right now we know about six different moves and can dance through a song. I do need to work on being a better follower, but I’m very excited about the progress we’ve made.

Tonight was so much FUN. I felt like Ross and I were both actually dancing, instead of just moving our feet. I am thrilled and relieved and excited.

Tried a new place this evening that’s easier to get to and where you have to register for 5 weeks at a time (so it’s the same people every week and the instruction can progress). Ross and I rocked the basic step, since we’ve already been taught it six times. :-) The important thing though is that we both felt more comfortable there. Hooray!

Asked my friend Will, who’s in a swing performance group, and he recommended classes at http://www.redwoodcityswing.com/calendar.html in April and May.

After skipping a week because of snowage, today’s third lesson was an interesting combination of joy and fear, compounded by the claustrophobia of approximately 50 people in one room attempting to twirl around each other. The spins went slightly better tonight—I am mostly off to the side instead of in the armpit now, which is a marginal improvement I suppose. I am having trouble relaxing enough to just go with the music, however, which is the major trouble I suspect. When I remember that this is actually supposed to be a dance (and actually supposed to be fun!), it’s wonderful.

Am still getting a kick out of the melange of little old men, geeky awkward ones, and sleazeballs.

Yesterday was harder, because for some reason I am having an inordinate amount of trouble spinning properly (and yet I’ve done it before!). I end up somewhere over to the side or in the guy’s armpit when I’m finished, I think because I am overly confused about where my feet are supposed to go and I’m not just—well, spinning.

The road to Erica-dom is long!

Last Thursday I went to my first lesson, in an Elk’s Lodge in Arlington - it was a little anxiety-provoking, since it was raining and I was 15 minutes late for the beginner’s class. Being late stresses me out almost more than anything else, plus I totally missed the explanation of the steps - but I am very glad I went. Now I just need to go again. And, again.